Bandera Electric Cooperative Texas Co-op Power- December 2022

Silent Night

The Christmas story comes to life in San Elizario with Las Posadas

Roll Out the Red Carpet

All Texans know the striking blush and cheery chirps of our other state bird: the northern cardinal.

By Mike Leggett

Illustration by Sarah Ferone

Continuing a Christmas Ritual

Las Posadas sustains a centuriesold Mexican reenactment of the biblical story.

By Melissa Gaskill Photos by Erich Schlegel

ON THE COVER

The Presidio Chapel of San Elizario.

Photo by Erich Schlegel

ABOVE

The northern cardinal is ubiquitous in Texas.

Illustration by Sarah Ferone

Hallmark of the Holidays

BECAUSE OF HENRY COLE, we have Christmas Card Day, which falls on December 9.

Cole, an Englishman, sent the first Christmas card—in 1843. He fretted over the new custom of sending personalized letters to all his friends. He simply didn’t have the time.

So he printed up 1,000 postcards, below, with the greeting “A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to You.”

December 6 National Microwave Oven Day

Your electric cooperative, your trusted energy adviser that strives to help you save money on electric bills, reminds you: Microwaves use about 60% as much energy as full-size ovens.

FINISH THIS SENTENCE

I CAN’T BELIEVE I USED TO WEAR ...

Tell us how you would finish that sentence. Email your short responses to letters@ TexasCoopPower.com or comment on our Facebook post. Include your co-op and town.

Here are some of the responses to our October prompt: The best Christmas gift I ever gave was …

A stove with a window in the oven door, to my mother-in-law, who proclaimed with joy, “Now I can watch my cookies as they are baking.”

LINDA STEINHEBEL VIA FACEBOOK

To my mother, in 1967, my return from the war.

ALLEN LINDERMAN NUECES EC CORPUS CHRISTI

In 2021, when I surprised our daughter Elizabeth with a book it took me 41 years to write about her

much-loved baby sister Rebecca, who died in 1980 at the age of 9 months.

PHYLLIS CRAM PEDERNALES EC AUSTIN

Visit our website to see more responses.

For the Rest of Us

Festivus, the TV holiday that isn’t really a holiday, came into the vernacular 25 years ago.

The December 18, 1997, Seinfeld episode included a storyline about Festivus, a supposed alternative to the pressures and commercialization of the Christmas season.

—GLADYS PARKER

Wreaths for the Fallen

THOUSANDS OF VOLUNTEERS across the country will honor veterans December 17 by laying wreaths at graves on National Wreaths Across America Day. In Texas, 210,000 wreaths are expected to be placed at 300 locations. We featured Texans’ involvement in this endeavor in Circle of Life in November 2018.

The prize package of a midweek getaway in this charming Hill Country town includes lodging, food and attractions. Enter now to win.

Wreaths Across America grew out of an effort that began in 1992, when Worcester Wreath Co. in Harrington, Maine, had extra wreaths near the end of its busy holiday season. The business arranged for the surplus wreaths to be delivered to Arlington National Cemetery and placed on headstones.

“ Nothing smoothes out the past like a present.”

Goodnight Slight

I was “buffaloed” by Bison at the Brink [October 2022]. I’m proud to know a Texan was responsible for saving buffalo from extinction in the U.S., but I was stunned the credit was repeatedly given to Charles Goodnight, even though the writer casually acknowledges that his “herd had been gathered and nurtured by his wife, Mary Ann Goodnight, who personally saw to it that the orphans found wandering the ranch were saved and protected.”

That’s the only time her name appeared. It’s a shame we can’t give credit where credit is due.

Susan Rosenberger Pedernales EC Spicewood and Johnson City

A similar story is told about how George Mitchell’s epiphany for the Woodlands came about [Good on Paper, September 2022].

MELINDA WOOD SASARAK VIA FACEBOOK

The Bottom Line

Eric Schlegel’s excellent photo captured a live look at the thrill and excitement of an uncharted cave explorer [Uncharted Territory, October 2022]. And Pam LeBlanc added intriguing coverage of the adventure.

Martha E. Jones Victoria EC Victoria

Colossal Cluster

In December 2005 we visited the monarchs’ nesting grounds at Sierra Chincua [Funnel Vision, October 2022]. Monarchs numbered in the millions—billions? Located at about 11,000 feet in elevation in a remote area of the Sierra Madre, they literally weighed down large pine tree boughs.

WRITE TO US letters@TexasCoopPower.com

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Please include your electric co-op and town. Letters may be edited for clarity and length.

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TEXAS

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Bison at the Brink

“ It was also Charles Goodnight who created the cattalo breed on his Texas Panhandle ranch.”

BILL LAMZA SAN BERNARD EC HEMPSTEAD

Wayne P. Blackley Trinity Valley EC Terrell

JULIA ROBINSON

ERICH

SCHLEGEL

HOLIDAY

GIFT GUIDE

In the magazine and on TexasCoopPower.com, we make it easy to shop for friends and family.

Fresh “New Crop” Pecans

Pecans Are Our Passion! New crop pecans, chocolatecovered nuts, specialty gift baskets, fudge, pecan pies. Our very own specialty roasted and salted pecans and gifts galore!

325-356-3616 sorrellsfarms.com

Fudge and Divinity for the Holidays

The Best Fudge in Texas. The Best Divinity in the World. Bring back those childhood memories of Christmas with the sweet gift of fudge and divinity from Holiday Farms.

holidayfarmscandy.com etsy.com/shop/DivinitybyDave

Ideal Arm Protection for Any Activity

Helps Prevent Bruising and Protects Those With Thin Skin! Soft leather protective sleeves help protect you from 100’s of injury-prone chores you do at work, home, farm, or ranch. Even has adjustable air昀ow!

(651) 492-4830 armchaps.com

Texas Red Grapefruit and Avocados

Always a Gift in Good Taste! Orchard-fresh grapefruit and other Texas products are all hand-selected, carefully packed and shipped to be delivered just in time for the holidays.

1-800-580-1900 crockettfarms.com

2023 Texas Cardinal Calendar

Enjoy a Beautiful New Bird Every Month! 2006 Ocial Texas State Artist George Boutwell’s 2023 calendar features 12 watercolors of cardinals. $12.50 each plus tax and $3.50 shipping.

1-800-243-4316 gboutwell.com

Homegrown Texas Pecans and Pecan Treats

Berdoll’s Has Been FamilyOwned for 43 Years. We make delicious pecan pies, chocolate pecans, honeyglazed pecans and more! Visit our squirrel, Ms. Pearl, at our retail store or order online.

(512) 321-6157 berdoll.com

Roll Out the Red Carpet

BY MIKE LEGGETT ILLUSTRATION BY SARAH FERONE

JUST ABOUT everyone knows that the northern mockingbird is Texas’ state bird. But there’s another bird we all know that is common throughout our state, nesting and feeding in brush and trees close to our homes and out in the pastures.

Some know it as the redbird, but it’s correctly called the northern cardinal. This strikingly colored bird is known for its happy chirping calls that can go on all day and for the beautiful crest and orange bill of the adults.

Cardinals are the first birds we hear and see hopping around in the brush outside our houses in the mornings. They are the last birds to go to bed every night, which makes them common prey for screech owls and other raptors. But if we ever get around to reconsidering Texas’ allegiance to the mockingbird, I suggest we consider the northern cardinal. After all, at least seven other states have chosen the cardinal as their own state bird.

The redbird is ubiquitous, especially in the winter since it doesn’t migrate, showing up everywhere from the border country of South Texas to the prairies of the Panhandle. All Texans know the cardinal.

Growing up in the tiny East Texas community of DeBerry in the 1950s, I spent a goodly portion of my young life walking the pastures and open fields around our house. I knocked off

more than my share of sparrows, starlings and brown-headed cowbirds as an eager beaver hunter with a BB gun.

I once made a long, long shot with my pellet rifle to kill what we called a French mockingbird. I know that bird now as the shrike, or butcher bird, named for its habit of hanging things it chases down on mesquite thorns and sharpened spikes on barbed wire fences.

I was not allowed, however, to shoot any of the small group of colorful songbirds that lived and nested near our home. The mockingbird was the state bird then, and I feared that could have gotten me locked up.

My dad, who established the shooting list at our house, probably would have pounded me for killing that shrike if he’d known about it. I kept that quiet. But Dad had a long list of birds with bright colors that I would have been in real trouble if I’d killed. Cardinals were his favorites and first on his protected list, followed by blue jays, bluebirds, scissortailed flycatchers and the always cooperative killdeer. Dad loved the way adult killdeers would feign injury and try to lead predators away from their babies and nests.

The beloved cardinal eats mostly seeds and nests around the edges of openings in low brush, especially in the cedar trees of Central Texas. We once had a nest that was built about thigh high in a cenizo just off the front porch of our house. I watched those pinkish eggs for a couple of weeks, until they hatched into three of the ugliest pink babies you

could imagine.

The babies got stronger and bigger and were just about to fledge when the nest was robbed by a Texas rat snake that had taken up residence in our flower bed. That was a sad morning when I found the nest emptied and the adults off squawking in the live oaks in the roundabout a few yards away.

There is a similar bird, actually another member of the cardinal family, known as a pyrrhuloxia. The male has a striking crest that’s larger than the cardinal’s but is colored mostly gray and crimson. They are common on ranches in South Texas during the winter. Their beaks are much more parrotlike than the cardinal’s obvious seed-cracking orange beak.

One ranch where I hunt has repurposed fiberglass water tanks buried in the ground for use as bow blinds. The rancher has piled dirt and brush on top of them and put one-way glass windows at eye level as you stand. It’s exciting to watch the male red cardinals flit through the trees as they scout for safe feeding spots on the ground.

Often they land just outside the windows where I can study them closely from just a couple feet away. It’s fascinating to watch them pick up a kernel of corn and quickly demolish it to get at the sweet meat inside. There’s comfort in that tiny, mighty act—in knowing that Texans yet to come will delight in the redbird. D

Christmas Ritual

Las Posadas sustains a centuries-old Mexican reenactment of the biblical story

AS THE LIGHT FADES on a chilly December evening, a row of luminarias glows against the white facade of the Presidio Chapel of San Elizario. The luminarias, paper bags containing lit candles, outline an adobe museum next to the 140year-old church and extend around the plaza and on down the streets, giving the night a festive feel.

In the tree-lined plaza, a group of young people in costume gathers next to a gazebo. This is a dress rehearsal for Las Posadas, which translates as “the inns” and refers to a procession or play that reenacts the biblical story of Mary and Joseph seeking shelter in Bethlehem and the birth of

OPPOSITE Students reenact the biblical story of Mary and Joseph, who, led by angels, seek shelter in Bethlehem before the birth of Jesus.

ABOVE A dazzling dancer at the San Elizario Luminaria Festival.

Jesus. This telling of the Christmas story originated in 16thcentury Mexico and continues there and in cities and towns north of the Rio Grande with musicians and costumed children going from house to house on Christmas Eve.

San Elizario, southeast of El Paso, has strong historic ties to Mexico, and the San Elizario Genealogy and Historical Society has staged a mostly annual Las Posadas as part of its Luminarias Festival for some 20 years. Lillian Trujillo, president of the organization, says many of the participants are teens from San Elizario Catholic Church.

“Sometimes we have to talk them into it; they’re shy,” Trujillo says. “We tell them that they don’t have to speak, that it’s just dressing up and walking around.” Older kids and adults sometimes fill in any gaps. For years, the costumes were an assortment of donated and leftover items, but in 2021, the society received enough donations to buy new ones.

As the dress rehearsal wraps up, people spill from the church where Mass has just ended, joining a crowd beneath the trees. Dozens of small children play in the leaves. Customers line up at a food truck at the back of the plaza. Las Posadas begins.

Students playing Mary and Joseph—the former perched on a real, live mule—make their way past the steps of the church, the mule’s hooves clopping on the pavement. In the gazebo, Trujillo reads the Christmas story aloud, her voice projected over speakers, as an “innkeeper” at the top of the steps turns the couple away. They continue on to the gazebo, where they settle on bales of hay, and the girl playing Mary pulls a baby doll from under her robe.

Youngsters dressed as wise men step forward to present their gifts: boxes representing gold, frankincense and myrrh. Under a nearby tree, the angels tell those dressed as shepherds the news of the baby’s arrival, and they all make their way into the gazebo to see him. The story is familiar to everyone here.

Las Posadas complete, the players scatter, some pausing to pet the placid mule. In front of the museum, boys and girls from a local folklórico class in traditional dress entertain the crowd with lively dances. Then the youngest kids take turns having a go at a giant piñata. Finally, Santa Claus shows up in a firetruck, sirens blaring and lights flashing, to hand out toys. The night ends with a drawing for bicycles, and every child entered takes home a shiny new bike and helmet, thanks to generous donations.

THE COMMUNITY spends weeks preparing for the festival, which is held on the second or third Saturday of December—December 17 this year.

Local families founded the San Elizario Genealogy and Historical Society in 1997 after a conversation at a family reunion about the importance of passing this area’s rich history on to younger generations. Board member Elizabeth Baker-Teran’s parents, Teresa and Miguel Teran, were among the founders. “They wanted to preserve the genealogical history of the families of San Elizario and the historical buildings that are still there and to educate the public about the hundreds of years of history,” Baker-Teran says.

That history includes construction of the presidio chapel by the Spanish for members of the military and their families in 1788. That first chapel flooded in 1829, and another was built to take its place. In 1877, the existing, larger church was built. Its walls were repainted and the current electric lights installed in the 1950s. The Stations of the Cross on the walls inside date back to about 1918.

The church sits at the center of the community, literally and figuratively. In San Elizario, as in other small towns all along the Rio Grande, church bells once served as a timekeeper, ringing at noon to signal lunch break; when it was time for Mass; and to announce weddings, baptisms and deaths.

The church sits at the center of the community, literally and figuratively. In San Elizario, as in other small towns all along the Rio Grande, church bells once served as a timekeeper, ringing at noon to signal lunch break; when it was time for Mass; and to announce weddings, baptisms and deaths.

San Elizario anchors the El Paso Mission Trail, which includes two other historic missions. The Ysleta Mission, originally built in 1680, is considered the first and oldest mission established in Texas and is the second-oldest continually active Catholic parish in the U.S. The original Socorro Mission was completed in 1691, making it the secondoldest Texas mission; the current building dates to 1843.

Socorro Road, which runs from Ysleta to Socorro to San Elizario, is the designated Mission Trail. The 9-mile route follows a segment of the El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (Royal Road of the Interior), a trade and supply route that ran from Mexico City to present-day Santa Fe, New Mexico, linking communities, missions and presidios. The oldest road in North America and once the longest, El Camino Real, or what remains of it, was designated as a National Historic Trail in 2000.

Originally, San Elizario, Socorro and Ysleta all sat on the south bank of the Rio Grande, in what became the country

OPPOSITE A service inside the Presidio Chapel of San Elizario, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. ABOVE Folklórico students perform dances that trace their origins to Indigenous peoples of Mexico.

of Mexico. In the 1829 flood, the river cut a new channel, leaving all three churches on the northern bank. When the U.S. declared the deepest channel of the Rio Grande as the international boundary with Mexico in 1848, these communities became part of the U.S.

The Los Portales Museum occupies a circa-1850 building in San Elizario and tells the area’s history. The exhibit room is small but contains a wealth of maps, photos and descriptions of significant events and everyday life in the area. At one point, the town supported a trade in salt from the Guadalupe Mountains. Local farmers employed a complex irrigation system to grow grapes, pears, onions and wheat, which was ground in a private gristmill.

Trujillo says that for many of the families that attend the Christmas festival, the evening fittingly has been about holiday fun. For Trujillo, whose family has been here since the 1700s, an annual Las Posadas is part of keeping that history alive. D

— FROM THE — TEXAS TIDE

Turns out, the plumpest, sweetest, juiciest oysters in the country are closer than you probably think. Texas proudly harvests wild oysters year-round from our waters of the Lone Star State. Deep-fried, broiled or grilled, these Gulf gems offer a distinctive taste you won’t find anywhere else.

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. To pay tribute to the beloved American President, Congress authorized the abrupt ending of the Franklin Half Dollar series, replacing it with the Kennedy Half Dollar. Following its release in January 1964, just two months after the tragic assassination, this Kennedy Half Dollar became the year’s most sought-after American coin!

The president’s wife, Jackie Kennedy, was given the choice of denomination and chose the Half Dollar because she did not want to see George Washington removed from the quarter. Interest in this first-year issue coins was very high, and people lined the streets outside the Treasury Building to obtain the coin.

The Only Kennedy Half Dollar Struck in 90% Silver

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You’re guaranteed to receive a first-year, 90% silver, 1964 Kennedy Half Dollar. Depending on your budget, you have your choice of three—Good, Brilliant Uncirculated, and

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The very best hunting knives possess a perfect balance of form and function. They’re carefully constructed from fine materials, but also have that little something extra to connect the owner with nature. If you’re on the hunt for a knife that combines impeccable craftsmanship with a sense of wonder, the $79 Huntsman Blade is the trophy you’re looking for.

The blade is full tang, meaning it doesn’t stop at the handle but extends to the length of the grip for the ultimate in strength. The blade is made from 420 surgical steel, famed for its sharpness and its resistance to corrosion.

The handle is made from genuine natural bone, and features decorative wood spacers and a hand-carved motif of two overlapping feathers— a reminder for you to respect and connect with the natural world.

This fusion of substance and style can garner a high price tag out in the marketplace. In fact, we found full tang, stainless steel blades with bone handles in excess of $2,000. Well, that won’t cut it around here. We have mastered the hunt for the best deal, and in turn pass the spoils on to our customers. But we don’t stop there. While supplies last, we’ll include a pair of $99, 8x21 power compact, binoculars and a genuine leather sheath FREE when you purchase the Huntsman Blade

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MESSAGE

FROM CEO WILLIAM “BILL” HETHERINGTON

The Importance of Home

AS WE APPROACH the holidays, our thoughts shift to some of the things that really matter in life— home and family. Your home and family can be whatever and however you define them, but no matter where you call home, the very word strikes a chord deep inside many of us.

Home means sanctuary—the place we can rest, relax, enjoy time with family and friends, learn, grow, and just be. Our homes say a lot about who we are. They can signal what we think is important in life and represent what we value. I think the following quote by Joseph Campbell really captures the essence of home:

“Your sacred space is where you can find yourself again and again. You really don’t have a sacred space, a rescue land, until you find somewhere to be that’s not a wasteland, some field of action where there is a spring of ambrosia—a joy that comes from inside, not something external that puts joy into you—a place that lets you experience your own will and your own intention and your own wish. I think everybody, whether they know it or not, is in need of such a place.”

Recently, a member of Bandera Electric Cooperative stopped by to introduce me to an author of children’s books geared primarily to young teens. As a courtesy, I read the author’s best-selling book, The Land of the Pines, a story about a kitten named Grey and her adventures at home on the Black Mountain farm. The book emphasizes the importance of selfesteem, empathy and character. These are values that can be shaped by our home and community.

The book’s author, Summer Nilsson, grew up in East Texas, in the town of Daingerfield, served in part by an electric cooperative, and she still calls that place home. Nilsson credits her upbringing in that community as the source of her belief system, which includes the importance of empathy, selfesteem and respect, values that oftentimes aren’t emphasized enough.

We’re all looking for a place where we can feel safe and invest our hopes, dreams and wishes as a foundation for the future. A place where our values are reflected. They say that owning your own home is the American dream, but I think being at home is the American dream, and I hope that this holiday season you can be at the place you call home. D

DID YOU KNOW?

You can use nonelectric Christmas decorations such as tinsel, mirrors, candles and garlands to keep energy demand low over the holidays.

POWER TIP

All I want for Christmas is a programmable thermostat so I can save as much as 10% on my heating costs.

LISA THORNBERG ISTOCK.COM

BEC Foundation Golf Tournament Raises $91,000 for Grants

THE BEC FOUNDATION held its fourth annual charity golf tournament October 10 at Tapatio Springs Hill Country Resort in Boerne. To kick off the tournament, the foundation hosted a dinner and dance October 9, when $30,000 in grants were awarded to area organizations.

In total, more than $91,000 was raised through sponsorships and challenges played on the course during the tournament. Proceeds from the event directly support local nonprofit organizations and vital services through the BEC Foundation’s grant program.

Sixty-eight golfers backed by 15 sponsors participated in the event. The Lower Colorado River Authority, a team sponsor, won first place; Superior Essex, another team sponsor, finished second; and Texas Electric Cooperatives, also a team sponsor, came in third.

Giving through the BEC Foundation is made possible by continued support from sponsors, voluntary donations and BEC members who electively round up their bills. To learn more about the BEC Foundation or to make a donation, visit banderaelectric.com/foundation.

Bandera Electric Cooperative

CONTACT US

P.O. Box 667 • Bandera, TX 78003

Toll-Free 1-866-226-3372 (1-866-BANDERA) Web banderaelectric.com Email mas@banderaelectric.com

Board of Directors

District 1 Robert Aguirre

District 2 Frances “Fran” Laue

District 3 Jeffery “Jeff” Slocum

District 4 Jeremy Diller, Vice Chairman

District 5 Annegreth “Anna” Niemann

District 6 Richard “Dick” Earnest

District 7 Christopher “Chris” Blakemore

District 8 Michael D.T. Edwards, Chairman District 9 Kurt Solis, Secretary-Treasurer

Key Staff

William “Bill” Hetherington, CEO Becky Bradburn, CFO John Padalino, General Counsel and CAO

Mission Statement

Our mission is lighting the grid to empower our members.

Vision Statement Reimagining rural America.

OFFICES

For hours and information, visit banderaelectric.com/hours.

Bandera Headquarters | 3172 Highway 16 N. Boerne | 1100 N. Main St., Suite 104

Comfort | 739 Front St. (Highway 27) Leakey | 485 West Ranch Road 337

PAYMENT OPTIONS

• myBEC online or mobile app bill payment

• Free bank draft service

• Paperless

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• PrePay program

Thank you to all of our sponsors! D Check

BEC Supports Utopia ISD Career Fair

BANDERA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE participated in a career fair

October 7 for students in grades 7–12 at Utopia Independent School District. In addition to staff from BEC’s construction division, the co-op also sent representatives from BEC Fiber and the Energy Saver program, who presented on those career paths.

BEC’s expansion into fiber internet and renewable energy offers new and innovative career paths that historically haven’t been available in rural areas.

“It is difficult for rural students to be exposed to careers outside of ranching and education, and the career fair is one way we can open their eyes to opportunities for their futures,” said Ashleigh Kay, Utopia ISD’s school counselor. “We appreciate Bandera Electric, Energy Saver and Fiber for being an integral part of our career fair. I had numerous students talking about pursuing careers with these branches of the cooperative.”

Throughout the event, Utopia students rotated to various stations where they learned about different industries and

career paths one can take to enter those fields.

BEC’s Energy Saver program representative, Evan Duran, enjoyed sharing his passion for energy efficiency and renewable energy with the Utopia students.

“At BEC we want to empower future generations to understand how to use electricity efficiently,” Duran said. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to explain to students the amazing programs that BEC offers, like the Energy Saver program to help afford major home upgrades. I learned they know more than we given them credit for. The future is bright!”

BEC welcomes the opportunity to visit schools, libraries and community events with various educational presentations. Visit banderaelectric.com/communityoutreach for more information or to request a presentation. D

Give the Gift of Energy Savings

IT’S DECEMBER, and Christmas will be here before you know it, which means it’s time to finish up your holiday shopping. You might still be struggling to find the perfect gift for that one family member who’s just plain impossible to shop for. If that’s the case, turn to a category of gifts that keep on giving: energy-efficient gadgets.

As a not-for-profit organization, Bandera Electric Cooperative encourages our members to conserve—because when you save, the co-op saves, and those savings ultimately get passed on to you, the co-op’s members, as capital credits.

So as you finish your holiday shopping for those hard-to-please loved ones this month, consider some of these energy-saving gift ideas to help your friends and family save money year-round:

Smart TVs and streaming devices. If the person you’re shopping for doesn’t already have a smart TV with streaming apps on it, a streaming device like a Roku, Chromecast, Apple TV or Amazon Fire Stick could be a great gift. Streaming devices consume less energy than pairing a TV set with a cable box or video game console.

Smart speakers. Smart speakers like those from Amazon and Google are not only designed to be energy efficient but can also be used to monitor other smart devices in your home to optimize energy use.

Solar-powered charging banks. Anyone with a cellphone knows that at some point, the battery is going to run low when they’re far from an outlet. A portable battery is a great solution to get that extra boost for your phone to make it through the day, and it doesn’t get more energy efficient than a charger that harnesses the power of the sun.

Smart thermostat. About half of the average American home’s annual energy bill goes to heating and cooling costs, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. One way to curb those costs is by installing a smart thermostat, which can learn a household’s routine and adjust temperatures accordingly.

LED lightbulbs and lamps. LED bulbs can be great stocking stuffers that’ll save energy and money over time. For a more compelling present, consider buying an LED lamp that your loved one can use to cozy up with a book this winter or voice-activated LED light strips that change color.

Kitchen countertop appliances. Electric griddles, air fryers, waffle makers and slow cookers make for great energy-efficient gifts that can also reduce cooking times.

Here at Bandera EC, we believe our members should enjoy all the comforts that modern technology provides without paying an arm and a leg. So this holiday season, give your loved ones a gift that saves. D

Pecan Pie Muffins

1 cup chopped pecans

1 cup brown sugar

½ cup flour ½ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

½ cup (1 stick) butter, melted 2 eggs, beaten 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium-size bowl, stir together pecans, brown sugar, flour, baking powder and salt.

2. Add melted butter, eggs and vanilla to bowl and stir to mix well.

3. Spoon batter into a foil-lined muffin pan. (Batter will stick to regular paper muffin cups.) Fill each cup about ¾ full. Bake 20–25 minutes.

MAKES 12 MUFFINS

Find this and more delicious recipes online at TexasCoopPower.com.

RON BAILEY ISTOCK.COM

Shift Energy Use to Off-Peak Times

ELECTRICITY USE fluctuates throughout the day based on consumer demand, and electric cooperatives must be able to provide enough electricity to meet the energy demands of their members during times of peak energy use. Early morning hours, when people start their day, and evening hours, when people return home after work, are typically the peak hours.

To reduce peak energy demand and save money, Bandera Electric Cooperative offers time-based usage incentives to encourage electricity use during off-peak hours—when energy is less expensive to provide. Similar to saving money by attending a matinee, you can keep more money in your wallet simply by using electricity during off-peak times. Using less on-peak power means lower costs for the co-op—and ultimately, lower rates for members.

Time-based usage rates allow members to lower their electricity costs without reducing the amount of electricity used. By performing some of your daily chores, such as running the dishwasher or doing laundry, during off-peak hours, you can save on your electric bill.

To learn more and sign up for our moneysaving time-based usage program, visit banderaelectric.com/timebasedusage. D

BEC Lineworkers Spark Christmas Spirit in Medina

ONE OF THE FIRST indications that Christmas has arrived is the festive glimmer of lights that illuminate many towns, transforming ordinary streets into winter wonderlands (or at least as close as we can get, living in South Texas). Perhaps you’ve wondered who the magical elves are that hang the Christmas lights.

In Medina, those magical elves are a group of residents who volunteer to hang seasonal lights, a tradition that has been carried on for more than 20 years. Each year, shortly after Thanksgiving, the crop of volunteers assembles to sort through hundreds of light strands and assess the bulbs’ condition, with replacement decorations added annually.

Funding for the project comes from donations from the community. You might have even spotted the collection jars at any of several local business leading up to the holidays. Lights and other supplies are then purchased at ACE Hardware, which generously offers them at cost. Andy Lautzenheiser, owner of the ACE Hardware store in Medina, has been involved in hanging the Christmas lights for as long as he can remember.

“We get a lot of compliments on the Christmas lights,” he said. “It helps with the Christmas spirit, and residents really appreciate it.”

Lautzenheiser used to take a more active role in hanging the lights but has since passed the reins to Medina resident Jeremy Stroud, who has spearheaded the project for the past three years.

“I may be in charge of getting them hung, but it takes many volunteers from the Medina community to keep the Christmas spirit alive,” Stroud said. “I am blessed to live in a community of people that want to help others.”

Bandera Electric Cooperative pitches in to help, ensuring the

Christmas lights are safely fastened to poles that line the street.

“BEC provides us with two bucket trucks and four linemen,” Stroud said. “We help stretch out the lights and check the bulbs before we give them to the linemen to attach, plug in and make operational.”

BEC is often sought out to help organizations with tasks and projects that benefit the community. In accordance with Cooperative Principle No. 7, Concern for Community, BEC is honored to lend a hand, especially in the name of Christmas spirit.

“We really enjoy this opportunity to work together with our members in the Medina area that results in bringing in the holiday spirit in a way that can be shared with members, friends and visitors to our community during the Christmas season,” said John Rush, manager of transmission and distribution operations at BEC.

Rush is also a Medina resident and gets to relish the annual wonderland. “I truly enjoy the Christmas decorations that are displayed each year in our hometown,” he said. “The decorations highlight our beautiful small town and demonstrate our community and cooperative working together to enhance our lives.”

It’s magical to see a town come together to bring joy to its residents. Although it may seem like magic elves hang the lights overnight, it’s really the shared effort and hard work of an entire community. BEC is happy to have the opportunity to help spark the Christmas spirit in those who live in Medina and to help carry on this holiday tradition. D

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Centuries ago, Persians, Tibetans and Mayans considered turquoise a gemstone of the heavens, believing the striking blue stones were sacred pieces of sky. Today, the rarest and most valuable turquoise is found in the American Southwest–– but the future of the blue beauty is unclear.

On a recent trip to Tucson, we spoke with fourth generation turquoise traders who explained that less than five percent of turquoise mined worldwide can be set into jewelry and only about twenty mines in the Southwest supply gem-quality turquoise. Once a thriving industry, many Southwest mines have run dry and are now closed.

We found a limited supply of turquoise from Arizona and purchased it for our Sedona Turquoise Collection . Inspired by the work of those ancient craftsmen and designed to showcase the exceptional blue stone, each stabilized vibrant cabochon features a unique, one-of-a-kind matrix surrounded in Bali metalwork. You could drop over $1,200 on a turquoise pendant, or you could secure 26 carats of genuine Arizona turquoise for just $99

A Brief but Determined Texan

Samuel Walker’s violent adventures became the stuff of legend

BY W.F. STRONG

SAMUEL WALKER arrived in Texas six years after the republic won its independence. In five more years, he would be dead. But in those five years, he would defend San Antonio from Mexican forces, invade Mexico four times, escape from a Mexican prison and help design one of the most famous guns in history.

One hundred and seventy-five years later, he’s also remembered as one of the most fascinating Texas Rangers of all time.

Before he was a Ranger, Walker was part of the ill-fated Mier expedition, during which 176 Texian militiamen were captured by Mexico in 1843. Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna ordered them all

shot, but cooler heads in the Mexican government prevailed, demanding one in every 10 killed instead. The Texans drew beans from a pot. Those who got one of the 17 black beans would be executed; those who drew white beans would live. Walker got a white bean.

The survivors were marched 800 miles across Mexico’s brutal deserts. Once in Mexico City, Walker and some other captives were imprisoned; others were marched another 100 miles and incarcerated in the infamous Perote Prison.

There is a much-shared myth that while he was incarcerated, Walker was ordered to dig a hole for a flagpole and

raise the Mexican flag. According to one version of the legend, he put a dime at the bottom of the hole and vowed to return one day, reclaim the coin and raise the Texas flag. Several years later, the story goes, he retrieved his dime when he returned with American forces.

It’s a good story but probably not true. Walker never mentioned it in his journals, and the flagpole in the various versions of the myth is always in Perote Prison. Walker was never held there.

Walker eventually escaped—a story that would make a good novel in itself—and made it back to Texas. He joined up with Jack Hays and the Texas Rangers in 1844.

When Gen. Zachary Taylor sent out a call in 1845 for volunteers to scout for his federal troops, Walker immediately signed up. He ran messages through the Mexican lines to keep Fort Texas (soon to be Fort Brown) aware of Taylor’s plans, and Walker led the charge in the battle for Monterrey.

It was after Taylor’s forces had secured Monterrey, in 1846, that Walker took a brief furlough and traveled east. There he gave Samuel Colt some ideas for improving an earlier model of Colt’s revolver. Colt, in gratitude, named a special, very heavy model—more than 4½ pounds— of his new six-shooter after the Ranger.

Walker next joined up with Gen. Winfield Scott’s campaign to attack Mexico City, sacking Perote Prison on the way. But Walker would not live to make it back to Texas. He died fighting in the town of Huamantla in 1847.

Walker’s body was eventually returned to San Antonio, interred in the Odd Fellows Cemetery, next to the unidentified remains of defenders of the Alamo. D

Listen as W.F. Strong narrates this story on our website.

Finger Foods

Make room on your plates for these yummy treats this holiday season

BY MEGAN MYERS, FOOD EDITOR

December is the perfect time of year for gathering with friends and family, and for me that always means having plenty of nibbles on hand. I love serving (and eating) appetizers. Everyone gets to taste a variety of dishes, and you don’t need to worry about overfilling your plate.

Jalapeño Popper Bites

8 ounces cream cheese, softened

½ cup finely shredded cheddar cheese

½ cup chopped jalapeño peppers

⅓ cup cooked and crumbled bacon

½ teaspoon salt

Pinch ground cayenne pepper (optional) 30 phyllo shells

Pickled jalapeño slices, for garnish

COOK’S TIP For a vegetarian option, the bacon can be left out.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a bowl, combine cream cheese, cheddar, chopped jalapeños, bacon, salt and cayenne until smooth and uniformly mixed.

3. Use two spoons or a small cookie scoop to divide mixture among phyllo shells. Place filled shells on a rimmed baking sheet and bake 10 minutes, until shells are crisp and filling is just starting to brown.

4. Let cool slightly and top each shell with a slice of pickled jalapeño. Serve warm.

MAKES 30 POPPERS

Follow along with Megan Myers and her adventures in the kitchen at stetted.com, where she features a recipe for Everything Bagel Pretzel Bites.

Cheesy Pepperoni Pizza Puffs

BEV KELLY BANDERA EC

Young guests will love these pizza puffs, but adults will enjoy them too. If you can’t find mini pepperoni rounds, use diced pepperoni or cut standard pepperoni slices into small pieces.

5 ounces (1 package) mini pepperoni rounds, divided use

2 cups flour

1 cup fresh shredded Parmesan cheese

2 tablespoons Italian seasoning

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon sugar

½ teaspoon crushed red chile flakes

1½ cups whole milk

2 eggs, beaten

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

2 cups shredded four-cheese pizza blend

Marinara sauce, for serving

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly coat two 24-cup mini muffin pans with nonstick spray. Reserve about ¼ cup pepperoni rounds and set aside.

2. In a large bowl, stir together flour, Parmesan, Italian seasoning, baking powder, sugar and red chile flakes. Stir in milk, eggs and oil until well blended, then stir in pizza cheese blend and remaining pepperoni.

$500 WINNER Texas Brisket Empanadas

ANN MCCOOL TRI COUNTY EC

EMPANADAS

1 sheet puff pastry

1 tablespoon olive oil

⅓ cup finely chopped red onion

1 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped

1¼ cups finely chopped cooked brisket

1 clove garlic, finely chopped

2 tablespoons barbecue sauce

1 teaspoon hot sauce

½ cup finely grated sharp cheddar cheese

1 egg

1 tablespoon water

DIPPING SAUCE

These empanadas will be among the first to disappear from the table thanks to their flavorful filling and dipping sauce. If you like, roll the puff pastry out thinner to create more empanadas with the same amount of filling.

MAKES 12–20 EMPANADAS

⅔ cup sour cream

⅓ cup barbecue sauce

2 tablespoons hot sauce

Lime juice, to taste

1. EMPANADAS Preheat oven to 375 degrees. Thaw puff pastry according to package directions and line two baking sheets with parchment.

2. Pour olive oil into a skillet and heat to medium, then add onion and jalapeño. Cook about 5 minutes, until starting to soften. Add brisket, garlic, barbecue sauce and hot sauce and cook another 3 minutes, stirring to combine well.

3. Transfer mixture to a bowl and stir in cheddar cheese until evenly mixed.

4. Roll out puff pastry to a large rectangle, approximately 9 by 12 inches, and cut into 3-inch squares.

5. Whisk together egg and water in a bowl and brush a small amount on edges of pastry squares. Place about 1 tablespoon of brisket filling in the center of each square, then fold over one side, bringing edges together. Crimp edges together with a fork.

6. Arrange empanadas on baking sheets and bake 20 minutes, until light golden brown.

7. DIPPING SAUCE In a bowl stir together sour cream, barbecue sauce, hot sauce and lime juice.

8. Serve empanadas warm with sauce on the side.

$500 Recipe Contest

BERRIES DUE DECEMBER 10

We’re looking for your favorite ways to enjoy strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries and more of the small juicy delights. Submit your recipes on our website by December 10 for a chance to win $500.

RECIPES CONTINUED

3. Scoop a heaping tablespoon into each muffin cup and top with reserved pepperoni slices.

4. Bake 20 minutes, until puffed and golden brown. Let cool 5 minutes, then remove from pan and serve.

MAKES ABOUT 4 DOZEN PIZZA PUFFS

Crispy Coconut Shrimp

VAN FULTON PEDERNALES EC

Homemade coconut shrimp is a wonderful appetizer for any occasion. Make sure to leave the tails on when peeling the shrimp, as it will make it easier to dip the shrimp into the coatings.

1¼ cups shredded coconut ⅓ cup panko breadcrumbs ⅓ cup flour ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon sugar

¼ teaspoon pepper

2 eggs

1 pound raw jumbo shrimp, defrosted, peeled and deveined Oil for frying

Chopped fresh cilantro, for garnish Thai sweet chili sauce, for serving

1. In a shallow bowl, combine coconut and panko. In another shallow bowl, combine flour, salt, sugar and pepper. Beat eggs in a third bowl.

2. Pat shrimp dry with paper towels. Holding by the tail, dip shrimp first into the

flour mixture, coating all sides. Then dip into the egg, let excess drip off and dip into the coconut mixture, pressing gently to adhere. Place coated shrimp on a baking sheet and repeat until all shrimp are coated.

3. In a heavy-bottomed pot such as a Dutch oven, add about 2 inches of oil and heat over high to 365 degrees. Use a thermometer to monitor temperature.

4. Fry shrimp in batches until golden brown, 1–2 minutes. Drain on a rack and let cool slightly before serving.

5. Garnish with cilantro, if desired. Serve with Thai sweet chili sauce for dipping.

MAKES ABOUT 20 SHRIMPS

Remember, we have nearly 1,000 recipes on our website to make your holidays perfect. Search by dish or ingredient and dig in.

CHET GARNER

A Raw Deal

Dziuk’s Meat Market has perfected so-called Texas tartare

BY CHET GARNER

WHEN I THINK of all the things I’ve eaten on the road that were most unfamiliar, a few dishes come to mind. There was the smoked cow eyeball in Brownsville, chicken feet in Houston and deep-fried rattlesnake in Sweetwater. I had to overcome some hesitations but still finished each one. That’s what I expected when I set out to try raw beef parisa at Dziuk’s Meat Market. But not only did I finish my plate, I left with an entire pound for later.

Dziuk’s (pronounced “jukes”) has been around since the 1960s, when it was started in Poth by two brothers. Later another location opened in Castroville, west of San Antonio. It’s an old-school meat market where you can buy a great steak cut to order and even bring in deer for processing. But despite selling every cut of meat your heart might desire, the most popular item remains their house-made parisa.

Parisa is a traditional dish made of raw round steak that’s ground up and mixed with salt, pepper, onions, jalapeños and soft easy-melt cheese. The locals buy hundreds of pounds a week to eat with crackers and bring to family gatherings. It’s a regional delicacy that, as far as I can tell, is only made at a handful of markets across Medina County. Third-generation owner Kenton Sims told me to think of it as “Texas tartare.”

I plunged my saltine deep into a pile of parisa then took a deep breath and a big bite. The flavor was instantly familiar: Tex-Mex spices blended deliciously with the mouthfeel and taste of a juicy hamburger. I loved it and finished off the whole platter. Then I ordered some parisa for the road—and made sure not to leave it behind in a hot car. D

ABOVE A platter of parisa didn’t last long once Chet got ahold of it.

Chet cooks up another video featuring one of his culinary adventures. Watch it on our website and see all his Texplorations on The Daytripper on PBS.

Know Before You Go

Call ahead or check an event’s website for scheduling details.

DECEMBER

08

New Braunfels Old Town Christmas Market, (830) 629-2943, newbraunfelsconservation.org

Dallas [8–11] Lone Star State Classic Dog Show, dallasdogshow.com

Granbury [8–11, 15–18, 20–23] Miracle on 34th Street, (817) 579-0952, granburytheatrecompany.org

09

Fredericksburg [9–10]

Christmas Journey, (830) 997-2069, bethanyfredericksburg.com

Lake Brownwood [9–10] Holiday at the Lake, (325) 784-5223, tpwd.texas.gov

Montalba [9–11] A Walk Through Bethlehem, (903) 764-8048, visitpalestine.com

Palestine [9–11] The Man Who Wanted To Be Santa Claus, (903) 922-1146, thetexastheater.com

Waxahachie [9–11] A Charlie Brown Christmas, (972) 646-1050, waxahachie communitytheatre.com

Fredericksburg [9–11, 16–18] Miracle on 34th Street, (830) 997-3588, fredericksburgtheater.org

10

Canton East Texas Book Bash, easttexas bookbash@gmail.com, easttexasbookbash.weebly.com

Chappell Hill Christmas Home Tour, (713) 562-6191, chappellhillgardenclub.com

COURTESY

Corpus Christi Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra: Home for the Holidays, (361) 883-6683, ccsymphony.org

Huntsville Houston Family Christmas, (936) 294-1111, samhoustonmemorial museum.com

Llano Snow Day!, (325) 247-5354, llanochamber.org

Round Top The Nutcracker, (979) 249-3129, festivalhill.org

Weslaco Lighted Christmas Parade, (956) 968-2102, weslaco.com

Fredericksburg [10–11] Redbud Artisan Market Holiday Show, (512) 660-3328, redbudartisanmarket.com

Spring [10–11] Islamic Arts Festival, info@ islamicartssociety.org, islamicartssociety.org

Seguin Mid-Texas Symphony: A Storybook Holiday, (830) 463-5353, mtsymphony.org

Texarkana Christmas at the Perot, (870) 773-3401, texarkanasymphony.org

Lubbock Glimpses of Lubbock History: Christmas in Lubbock, (806) 767-3733, ci.lubbock.tx.us

Corsicana Christmas Variety Show, (903) 874-7792, corsicanapalace.com

Katy Christmas Gift Market, (936) 900-1900, bigtop.show

Pick of the Month

Mariachi Sol de México de José Hernández: Merry-Achi Christmas Midland, December 14 1-800-514-3849, wagnernoel.com

José Hernández’s Mariachi Sol de México blends cultural traditions with modern genres and styles to create an award-winning sound that has appealed to listeners the world over. This is a Christmas concert you won’t soon forget.

DECEMBER EVENTS CONTINUED

15

Anson [15–17] Texas Cowboys’ Christmas Ball, (325) 696-9040, texasccb.com 16

Tyler K-Love Christmas, (903) 525-1100, gabc.org

Boerne [16–18] Kinder Fest, (830) 816-2176, ci.boerne.tx.us

Leander [16–18] GoGames360, 1-866-582-5422, gogames360.com

17

Amarillo Amarillo Symphony: Happy Holiday Pops, (806) 376-8782, amarillosymphony.org

Bandera Horse-Drawn Wagon Rides With Santa, (830) 688-3063, banderacowboycapital.com

Boerne Winter Solstice: Rudi and the Rudiments, (830) 537-4212, cavewithoutaname.com

18

Brenham The Grand Ol’ Christmas Show, (979) 337-7240, thebarnhillcenter.com

Coldspring It’s a Charlie Diggs Christmas, charliediggs.com

Waco Carpenters Legacy: A Christmas Portrait, (254) 296-9000, wacohippodrometheatre.com

Austin [17–23] Armadillo Christmas Bazaar, (512) 447-1605, armadillobazaar.com

Grand Prairie Michael Martin Murphey’s Cowboy Christmas, (972) 854-5076, texastrustcutheatre.com

Richards James Zimmerman, (936) 436-9050, wscwinery.com

Stonewall Annual Tree Lighting, (830) 644-2252, tpwd.texas.gov

22

New Braunfels Deck the Dancehalls, (830) 606-1281, gruenehall.com

Palestine Christmas Carol Sing Along, (903) 723-3014, visitpalestine.com

31

Elgin Glowing Into 2023, (512) 281-5724, elgintexas.gov

Fredericksburg Countdown to 2023, (830) 997-7521, fbgtx.org

JANUARY 01

Round Top Linda Patterson and Friends: Organ Duets, (979) 249-3129, festivalhill.org

Surfside Beach Polar Plunge, (979) 233-1531, visitbrazosport.com

COURTESY JOSÉ HERNÁNDEZ

Winter Wildlife

Step into the crisp air, slide a gloved hand over snow packed all around, and see evidence of animals large and small as you step into a sparkling winter wonderland. When a twig snaps behind you, you’ll have to act fast to capture an image as stunning as these.

CURATED BY GRACE FULTZ

1 MIKE PRESTIGIACOMO

BARTLETT EC A thirsty fox.

2 FRANKI SALDIVAR J A C EC

“I put a bird feeder out for the cardinals when it snowed, and they sure seemed to appreciate it.”

3 RICK BLACKMORE PEDERNALES EC “A buck lounging in the snow during the winter storm of 2021.”

4 GABRIELLE ETHINGTON PENTEX ENERGY A doe curiously walks up to a dove looking for food.

I’ll Be Gone for Christmas

TRAVEL DURING the Christmas season is my way of clearing my head of the clutter that can weigh down the celebration. I just need a few deep breaths beneath trees that don’t have lights on them. And a spare winter landscape regenerates my spirit like nothing else.

chairs, no plates, no knife. I did bring salt and pepper, a big cake of lavender soap and one plastic fork. It was a few days after I’d hosted a Christmas event for 50 people; I was so tired I was stupid.

My brother was undaunted. Before I had discovered I’d also forgotten firewood, he had chicken seasoned and cooking nicely on his portable grill—gamely making do with the single plastic utensil. I headed to a nearby store for split logs.

When I returned, my son was barefoot. In the time I’d been gone, he’d cast his rod into the lake, then waded in after it— soaking socks and shoes. He appeared delighted to be wearing leather work gloves on his feet, like some giant splay-footed bird cozied up to the grill. Uncle Jimmy was already steaming the socks dry.

After eating, we hiked to a spectacular scenic overlook. That was when I consciously noted Jimmy’s pink stocking cap. The hat was familiar. And comforting. It had been knitted by our mother. In her passion for handcrafts, Mom would get stuck in loops of creativity. Jimmy was the beneficiary of the Year of the Knitted Caps. By wearing one, he brought her along.

Jimmy also inherited Mother’s adaptability and resourcefulness. We both have a heaping share of her curiosity. She taught us to pause often on any walk, to study stones and insects and scat. She was monumentally successful in opening our eyes to the natural world.

BY BABS RODRIGUEZ ILLUSTRATION BY KEVIN FALES

I first discovered how meaningful such a journey could be when my son was barely school age. It was 20 years ago, just after our mom died, and my youngest brother, Jimmy, and I were struggling to reinvent the holiday season without her.

I invited Jimmy, whose eccentric education in anthropology and fishing made him an ideal camp companion, to join my son and me in a nearby state park.

As we settled into a campsite, I realized that I had been so fixated on keeping the planning minimal that I had packed no

After we took in the view from the overlook, we began exploring cautiously. I focused my attention on my son, introducing him to nopales and miniscule fungi. But watching Jimmy bobbing through the woods in that pink hat, I realized it was I who most needed the lessons of this day away from the holiday: a reminder to be the mother to my son that she had been to me. D

The gift of escaping and passing along a mother’s curious nature